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A sign posted on the door of the Division of Public Assistance office in Bethel, Alaska, on Oct. 11, 2023. The office offers full services. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska invested millions to fix food stamp backlogs. Some users still can’t get through.

State has not finished tech rollout, officials say they are still working to reopen offices.

A sign posted on the door of the Division of Public Assistance office in Bethel, Alaska, on Oct. 11, 2023. The office offers full services. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
People carry signs at a Juneau rally in favor of an increase to the amount the government pays schools per student on Jan. 29, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska school districts got a one-time funding boost. It came too late for many teachers.

Districts say instructors are leaving because of uncertainty in what is usually a stable profession

People carry signs at a Juneau rally in favor of an increase to the amount the government pays schools per student on Jan. 29, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Mike Bethers and his wife, Astrid, turn over two fish to Alysha Reeves, dock chair at the Auke Nu weighing station during the final day of the 78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Slow fishing at 78th Golden North Salmon Derby still reels in heavier winning catch than last year

27.7-pound king salmon turned in by Karie Sims tops the scales as three-day event ends Sunday.

Mike Bethers and his wife, Astrid, turn over two fish to Alysha Reeves, dock chair at the Auke Nu weighing station during the final day of the 78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
From left to right: Jeff Smith, Tanna Peters and Gwenna Corvez return for food after finishing pulling insulation out of two crawlspaces in a row on Saturday morning. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau comes together to help residents recover from the Mendenhall River flood

Hauling wet fiberglass insulation from crawlspaces is currently the biggest need

From left to right: Jeff Smith, Tanna Peters and Gwenna Corvez return for food after finishing pulling insulation out of two crawlspaces in a row on Saturday morning. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
At the Kake Dog Salmon Festival on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, residents and visiting Quakers examined artifacts returned to the village by the ancestor of a Quaker missionary. (Photo courtesy of Jan Bronson)

Alaska Native artifacts returned to Kake as Quakers continue reparations

Sen. Murkowski, federal officials hear of roadblocks to proposed cultural healing center.

At the Kake Dog Salmon Festival on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, residents and visiting Quakers examined artifacts returned to the village by the ancestor of a Quaker missionary. (Photo courtesy of Jan Bronson)
Firefighter Sylvester Olivares-Ramos bows down to give the U.S. Coast Guard softball team their first-place trophy in the Alaska Peace Officer Association’s charity softball tournament on Saturday that fundraises for Special Olympics Alaska. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Charity softball tournament catches more than $1,000 for Special Olympics Alaska

Alaska Peace Officers Association Capital City Chapter hosts “Guns Versus Hoses Charity Softball”

Firefighter Sylvester Olivares-Ramos bows down to give the U.S. Coast Guard softball team their first-place trophy in the Alaska Peace Officer Association’s charity softball tournament on Saturday that fundraises for Special Olympics Alaska. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Douglas Harbor weighing station is quiet on Saturday morning as the 78th Golden North Salmon Derby begins its second day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

78th Golden North Salmon Derby starts slow due to flood cleanup, fishing conditions

23.3-pound king leads after first day; weekend weather forecast is for a chance of rain.

The Douglas Harbor weighing station is quiet on Saturday morning as the 78th Golden North Salmon Derby begins its second day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A runner nears the end of the Mount Roberts Trail during the Nifty Fifty Race on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Running 50K up and down Juneau’s mountains as a warmup? Yes, for some Nifty Fifty racers

Some of this year’s 14 participants in race with 5,000 ft. of elevation gain have even loftier goals.

A runner nears the end of the Mount Roberts Trail during the Nifty Fifty Race on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Stranding Network members examined a young male humpback whale on July 8, 2024 near Elfin Cove. Members included a veterinarian with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services and a biologist with Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services)

Ship strikes suspected of causing two whale deaths in Icy Strait

One whale was pregnant at the time of death, according to NOAA.

Alaska Stranding Network members examined a young male humpback whale on July 8, 2024 near Elfin Cove. Members included a veterinarian with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services and a biologist with Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services)
A crew member aboard a Prince William Sound works with the operator vessel’s skiff, which is used to maneuver the net into position. (Photo courtesy of Megan Corazza)

‘Huge disaster’: Historically weak pink salmon runs strain Alaska’s seine fishermen

Skippers in Prince William Sound and Kodiak say this year’s harvest is one of the worst they’ve seen.

A crew member aboard a Prince William Sound works with the operator vessel’s skiff, which is used to maneuver the net into position. (Photo courtesy of Megan Corazza)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 9, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Aug. 10

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 9, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alysha Reeves, a nine-year Golden North Salmon Derby official, validates a fisherman’s ticket at the Auke Nu weigh station on Friday morning, the first day of the three-day derby. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby offers a nibble of normalcy in wake of record flood

Occasional rain, a few stray trees in the waters near Juneau expected as three-day event begins.

Alysha Reeves, a nine-year Golden North Salmon Derby official, validates a fisherman’s ticket at the Auke Nu weigh station on Friday morning, the first day of the three-day derby. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Flowers, notes, cash donations and other items are placed Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at a memorial for Steven Kissack, a longtime Juneau resident experiencing homelessness, at the spot he was fatally shot by police the previous day. The stuffed malamute is in recognition of his dog Juno, who was present when the shooting occurred. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Weekly

Memorial benefit show for Steven Kissack seeks to help others facing his struggles

Ten music acts scheduled to perform Saturday at Crystal Saloon in memory of well-known homeless resident.

Flowers, notes, cash donations and other items are placed Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at a memorial for Steven Kissack, a longtime Juneau resident experiencing homelessness, at the spot he was fatally shot by police the previous day. The stuffed malamute is in recognition of his dog Juno, who was present when the shooting occurred. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A view of the Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2022. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

$83 million loan program for Alaska tribal and small businesses approved by U.S. Dept. of Treasury

Program aims to help businesses that may not receive loans otherwise.

A view of the Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2022. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)
A worker examines a flooded yard where fuel and other hazardous material may have spilled. (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation photo)

Resources for flood cleanup and recovery offered by city, other entities

Waste collection and disposal options expanded, volunteer coordination and other efforts underway

A worker examines a flooded yard where fuel and other hazardous material may have spilled. (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation photo)
Homes, streets and vehicles are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Sullivan: Short-term focus after flood on FEMA aid, long-term focus on ‘engineering solution’

“We can’t have it that Juneau has this problem every summer,” senator says during visit Thursday.

Homes, streets and vehicles are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)
Alaska National Guard members help clear debris Thursday from a neighborhood hit by record flooding of the Mendenhall River earlier this week. (Alaska National Guard photo)

Alaska National Guard deployed to assist with flood recovery efforts

40 members from Juneau and elsewhere will help with debris cleanup, distribution of supplies.

Alaska National Guard members help clear debris Thursday from a neighborhood hit by record flooding of the Mendenhall River earlier this week. (Alaska National Guard photo)
The aftermath of the flood is seen in Maggie Nolen’s basement apartment on Tuesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents impacted by the Mendenhall River flood begin recovery step by step

Volunteers help salvage homes and belongings after record flood causes widespread damage.

The aftermath of the flood is seen in Maggie Nolen’s basement apartment on Tuesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Isabella Lang gets an enthusiastic greeting as she finishes first overall in the Olympic distance in Aukeman Triathlon on Sunday. (Photo by Bob Eastaugh)

Record number of racers feel heat of new challenges, including first-ever long course, at Aukeman Triathlon

Isabella Lang, in a “for-fun” effort, gets dominant overall win in Olympic-length course.

Isabella Lang gets an enthusiastic greeting as she finishes first overall in the Olympic distance in Aukeman Triathlon on Sunday. (Photo by Bob Eastaugh)
The sticker-covered wall outside the Prudhoe Bay General Store, a landmark in the community of Deadhorse, is seen on Aug. 22, 2018. Behind it is an oil equipment and oil-related facilities sited at Deadhorse, just outside of the Prudhoe Bay field. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 89 degrees at the industrial camp community, the highest ever recorded there and likely the highest ever recorded at this latitude anywhere in North America. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Record-high temperatures bake Deadhorse and other sites on Alaska’s North Slope

A scorching hot day in Alaska’s Arctic set multiple records on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. At Deadhorse, the industrial camp community next… Continue reading

The sticker-covered wall outside the Prudhoe Bay General Store, a landmark in the community of Deadhorse, is seen on Aug. 22, 2018. Behind it is an oil equipment and oil-related facilities sited at Deadhorse, just outside of the Prudhoe Bay field. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 89 degrees at the industrial camp community, the highest ever recorded there and likely the highest ever recorded at this latitude anywhere in North America. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)